Simone Biles

In 2016, after the Russian cyber espionage group Fancy Bear’s hack into the World Anti-Doping Agency, her medical information was released.

She announced through Twitter that she is suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder. She was allowed treatment for the same and was granted Therapeutic Use Exemption.

Simone’s coach had never trained an elite gymnast before coaching her and she thinks that this lack of experience in her coach was helpful for both of them in exploring and learning new techniques.

Simone was born to Shanon Biles on 14th March 1997, in Columbus, Ohio. Simone’s father was Kelvin Clemons. However, he was never a part of her life as he struggled with problems of addictions and abandoned his family. Simone’s mother, Shanon, too was a victim of drug and alcohol addiction. She did not play a significant part in the raising of her children either.

Simone is third of the four siblings; the others being Ashley, Tevin, and Adria. Adria Biles is also a gymnast. Simone was brought up by her grandfather, Ron Biles (Shanon’s father), and his wife, Nellie Cayetano Biles. Ron is a former air traffic controller. Nellie is a nurse and a former co-owner of a chain of nursing homes in the USA.

Simone’s career as a gymnast started when she first tried gymnastics at a young age of 6 at a field trip with her day care mates. She impressed her instructors and they suggested her to continue with gymnastics later.

She soon opted for a training program at ‘Bannon’s Gymnastix’ and began her official training with her coach Aimee Boorman. She was just 8 then.

Her official career began when she competed in the American Classic in Houston in 2011. She was placed 3rd all round, excelling at the first position on vault and balance beam. Later that year, she participated in the USA Classic in Chicago, Illinois, where she got placed 20th all round.

In 2012, her success motivated her to concentrate more on her gymnastics career. To do that, she quit public school and started homeschooling, which allowed her nearly 2 hours more training every day.

In the 2012 American Classic at Huntsville, Texas, she was placed 1st all round, excelling once again at vault. She was placed 1st in the US Classic at Chicago as well which paved way for an entry to the National Championship.

She was chosen as ‘Sportswoman of the Year’ in 2014 and 2016 by the Women’s Sports Foundation and became one of the 25 in ESPNW’s top list.

She was nominated for the James E Sullivan Award in 2015.

She became the Team USA Female Olympic Athlete of the Year in 2015.

She was chosen as one of BBC’s 100 women in the year 2016. She was also the finalist in TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year in the same year.

She was nominated for the BEST Female Athlete award for ESPY in 2016.